Tanya Fox, editor, and Brooke Smith, managing editor, are the editorial team behind CardMaker magazine. When not reviewing design submissions and planning future issues of the magazine and pattern books, they can often be found exploring websites for inspiration and visiting their favorite local coffee shop.

They hope you’ll visit the blog often as they share card-making tips, designer features, paper-crafting techniques, project inspiration and a peek at life inside the CardMaker office.

Is it just me, or does it seem like this year has gone by incredibly fast? It seems hard to believe that we are already full steam ahead into the holiday season. With Thanksgiving coming so late this year, I feel like I am already a bit behind. I love to give handmade gifts, but sometimes it is hard to find the extra time to make everything by hand.

Even when a completely handmade gift isn’t possible, I still like to add a little something homemade … even if it’s just a hand-stamped tag tied onto a store-bought gift. One of my favorite gifts to give (and receive) are gift baskets full of an assortment of goodies. This year, in addition to cookies and candy, I plan to add some calorie-free goodies, such as these holiday bottle cap magnets.

These are really easy to make and are a great way to use up paper scraps. You can use recycled bottle caps, as I did, or search online and you will find bottle caps for sale in dozens of colors.

Using a 1-inch circle punch to cut the paper makes this project come together in no time. Any paper will work, but I found that the scale of papers from a 6 x 6-inch paper pad worked best.

Once the paper is in place, cover it with a layer of a dimensional glaze, such as Glossy Accents by Ranger, or Diamond Glaze by JudiKins. Sprinkle on glitter or other trinkets while the glaze is still wet. The ones I made have an assortment of embellishments … everything from plain glitter to old metal charms to sequins to alphabet stickers. This would be a great project to do with kids.

While this is a really fast project to make, it isn’t something you can do at the last minute since the glaze takes several hours to dry. Overnight is best. Once dry, adhere a magnet to the back. I love the way the clear crystal glitter adds a bit of shimmer, but still allows the pattern on the back of the paper to shine through.

I also really like the way some of the tiny patterns from the 6 x 6-inch paper are highlighted with this project. It’s almost like a miniature framed piece of art; aren’t those little deer on the red background darling?

It was really fun using my card-making supplies to create something different. What are some of your favorite handmade gifts to give or receive? I’m always looking for new ideas and would love to hear yours!